LEDagent
Flashlight Enthusiast
I\'M BACK!!! (from the Philippines)
Boy, does it feel great to be back! Actually, i came back on the 15th of August. This whole time, i've been relaxing, and re-gathering myself. I've been lurking on the board since i got back, but just didn't have the mental strength or desire to start typing yet. <gasp> does that mean my days as a flashaholic come to an end? DOes that mean i've been cured???
You know...i've been thinking about that very same question for the past two weeks. I just couldn't understand why i haven't had the desire, like i once had, to talk about flashlights. My trip/stay in the Philippines was very draining AND fulfilling at the same time! It was a very humbling experience as well! I have met some great people while i was there. Heck...i LOVE the people there in the Philippines. People there are VERY different that the people here in the States. I don't travel much...so i'm sure that's true in different countries as well. People there are very humble, and welcoming...words just can't describe it.
Some of you may remember my pre-travel rants about my trip to the Philippines. Let me tell you...the trip turned out to be nothing what i expected. People there aren't crooks and theives like people have made them out to be. I didn't have to clutch my belongings as i walked down the street. I didn't have to always look over my shoulder and keep an eye out for danger. The place that i stayed at in Manila was a place called Makati. Over there, they have security personel every 100 yards you go...in any direction. And the malls...WHOO...don't even think about stealing anything in the malls...HECK, good luck trying to run your way out of the malls. THere malls are filled with security personel. maybe two every couple of yards or so. Lets just say i felt safe...and all those precautionary steps i took before the trip were all a waste of time, money, and nerve.
...And the clothes...sheesh was i waaay off with my planning. I happened to stay in the city for the majority of my stay. So my shorts and slipper outfits were totally not needed; NOT even in the country provinces! DAMN...people were wearing jeans and long sleaved dress shirts in the hot, muggy, tropical weather. And when it rained, people still wore jackets and windbreakers in the 85 degree HUMID weather. I just couldn't believe it. Just when i thought i couldn't take anymore of the heat...there i see a kid walking down the street with a designer sweater on. BOY! have things changed since my last visit in '96.
ANYHOO....the biggest impact for me was to see my family again. My cousins, uncles, and aunties.
OOoh...how i miss them! THey are my life. Family values in the Philippines is very different that the values we Filipinos have here in the States. Family means SO MUCH more in the Philippines. Just imagine having your brothers and sisters and cousins over for dinner every other night. Just imagine your sons and daughters hanging out with their cousins 24/7 like BEST friends. OOOHH it felt so right being back home. I haven't seen them in over 6 years, and they made me feel like i've never left. Geez...it brings tears to my eyes...
Anyway, to make this a little shorter (for now), i hope you can see why i wasn't so quick to come back on board the CPF once i got back. I just felt that something bigger was occupying my life at the time. But now i'm getting back into the groove of things. I start school again tomorrow, and so that means i return to the fast pace of life here in the States again. I feel ready now too to return to the CPF. After lurking for the past 2 weeks i feel like i've missed alot. There are MANY new members on the board. And it looks like Saaby has really talked up a storm too HAHA.
I remember, before i left, that Saaby was just a new, VERY young, member. Now...he's talkin' up a storm. So is the new member named Cutter. 400 posts in 2 weeks?! That's amazing!
Anyway, now that i'm back on the CPF i hope to return to this great online family that i've come to love. You guys are great. Talk to you soon.
P.S. i'll be adding more of my thoughts and experiences about my trip later. Right now...i have to get some sleep before i start another round of college life.
It's great to be back.
Here is just a small picture of a nice view in the Philippines. GGEEEZ...look how green it is. I wish San Diego was this green...but alas...we are in a desert.
Boy, does it feel great to be back! Actually, i came back on the 15th of August. This whole time, i've been relaxing, and re-gathering myself. I've been lurking on the board since i got back, but just didn't have the mental strength or desire to start typing yet. <gasp> does that mean my days as a flashaholic come to an end? DOes that mean i've been cured???
You know...i've been thinking about that very same question for the past two weeks. I just couldn't understand why i haven't had the desire, like i once had, to talk about flashlights. My trip/stay in the Philippines was very draining AND fulfilling at the same time! It was a very humbling experience as well! I have met some great people while i was there. Heck...i LOVE the people there in the Philippines. People there are VERY different that the people here in the States. I don't travel much...so i'm sure that's true in different countries as well. People there are very humble, and welcoming...words just can't describe it.
Some of you may remember my pre-travel rants about my trip to the Philippines. Let me tell you...the trip turned out to be nothing what i expected. People there aren't crooks and theives like people have made them out to be. I didn't have to clutch my belongings as i walked down the street. I didn't have to always look over my shoulder and keep an eye out for danger. The place that i stayed at in Manila was a place called Makati. Over there, they have security personel every 100 yards you go...in any direction. And the malls...WHOO...don't even think about stealing anything in the malls...HECK, good luck trying to run your way out of the malls. THere malls are filled with security personel. maybe two every couple of yards or so. Lets just say i felt safe...and all those precautionary steps i took before the trip were all a waste of time, money, and nerve.
...And the clothes...sheesh was i waaay off with my planning. I happened to stay in the city for the majority of my stay. So my shorts and slipper outfits were totally not needed; NOT even in the country provinces! DAMN...people were wearing jeans and long sleaved dress shirts in the hot, muggy, tropical weather. And when it rained, people still wore jackets and windbreakers in the 85 degree HUMID weather. I just couldn't believe it. Just when i thought i couldn't take anymore of the heat...there i see a kid walking down the street with a designer sweater on. BOY! have things changed since my last visit in '96.
ANYHOO....the biggest impact for me was to see my family again. My cousins, uncles, and aunties.
Anyway, to make this a little shorter (for now), i hope you can see why i wasn't so quick to come back on board the CPF once i got back. I just felt that something bigger was occupying my life at the time. But now i'm getting back into the groove of things. I start school again tomorrow, and so that means i return to the fast pace of life here in the States again. I feel ready now too to return to the CPF. After lurking for the past 2 weeks i feel like i've missed alot. There are MANY new members on the board. And it looks like Saaby has really talked up a storm too HAHA.
Anyway, now that i'm back on the CPF i hope to return to this great online family that i've come to love. You guys are great. Talk to you soon.
P.S. i'll be adding more of my thoughts and experiences about my trip later. Right now...i have to get some sleep before i start another round of college life.
Here is just a small picture of a nice view in the Philippines. GGEEEZ...look how green it is. I wish San Diego was this green...but alas...we are in a desert.
